Sky bolsters network capacity with 100Gb link

Sky Broadband has installed the UK’s first 100Gb technology in its network following a successful trial.

The link – installed between London and Birmingham – allows for much greater capacity in fibre optic lines, enabling a faster, more consistent and more reliable internet service.

Sky’s network upgrade was facilitated by installing more than 7,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables into tunnels running along former industrial canal routes.

Five further Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) solution deployments are now planned for 2012.

According to Sky, 100Gb DWDM will enable data transfer at a speed of more than 7Tb per second, ten times faster than most current networks.

This means 4.6 million UK broadband users could simultaneously watch a streamed HD movie at the same time.

Jon Blumberg, Commercial Director at Sky Broadband & Talk, said the firm's broadband network had been designed to handle this kind of data-rich content.

"With the rapid adoption of services such as Sky Anytime+ and Sky Go, our customers are streaming and downloading more than ever before, as well as watching record levels of traditional TV," he stated.

"Sky Broadband really was built with entertainment in mind and the network innovations we’re announcing today will make sure we’re in good shape to continue to satisfy the demands of our customers.”

Mr Blumberg said it was "fitting" that the firm could use the former pathways to industrial prosperity "for the purposes of a modern equivalent of this super highway".

Sky Broadband witnessed an increase of 683,000 in its customer base in the year to September 2011.

And more than a million UK households have now plugged their Sky+HD box into the Sky's broadband network to use video on-demand service Sky Anytime+.

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